SWR: 581/582

Chapter 581: The Sky Has Changed in the Premier League

With a swish, Gao Shen pulled open the floor-to-ceiling curtains in his bedroom. Bright sunlight flooded the room, making him squint. It felt a little uncomfortable, yet at the same time, refreshing.

As someone from the south, he had never quite gotten used to the British weather.

In contrast, he still preferred climates like those in Spain or Italy.

In the UK, every time he looked up, the sky was gloomy. It was a suffocating kind of dreariness, a feeling of being weighed down.

A sunny day like today was a rare occurrence.

Even rarer was the fact that Gao Shen had no urgent tasks to deal with.

There was no training scheduled for the day. All the national team players had left for international duty, while those without call-ups were given a day off. Naturally, the coaching staff followed suit.

Of course, the break lasted only one day, training would resume tomorrow.

For once, Gao Shen found himself with free time and didn't know how to spend it.

In the past, his mornings followed a strict routine—wake up, freshen up, then head straight to Carrington.

Carlo, Lucas, or another member of the coaching staff would drive over to pick him up. They'd have breakfast together before diving into a busy day that often stretched late into the night. By the time he got home, he'd go straight to bed, utterly exhausted.

Thinking about it now, it was almost embarrassing.

He had lived in Alderley Edge for so long but had never really taken the time to appreciate his surroundings until today.

He had heard that Ferguson lived in Wilmslow, just north of Alderley Edge. Should he pay him a visit?

But Gao Shen quickly dismissed the idea. They would be seeing each other soon enough.

The annual FA Coaches Conference was approaching, and as a Premier League manager, Gao Shen was invited as a special guest.

This conference, held once a year by the English FA, lasted for three days. Unlike UEFA's elite coaching summit, this event was open to all professional coaches registered with the FA. Each day, renowned coaches were invited to give special lectures.

In simple terms, it was a gathering for professional coaches to exchange ideas.

Of course, with so many attendees, the quality of discussions varied greatly. It couldn't compare to UEFA's elite summit.

For the past two or three years, besides the Premier League itself, the most talked-about topic in English football had been youth development.

Everyone knew that securing a spot in the Premier League was incredibly expensive. The bottom line? There were too many players, but not enough top-quality talent.

As early as the start of the century, Howard Wilkins, the FA's technical director, had suggested following the examples of Italy's Coverciano and France's Clairefontaine to establish a national training center in England.

However, the plan was shelved due to the massive overspending on Wembley Stadium.

But England's performances in recent tournaments had been disappointing. Despite having a wealth of star players, results remained underwhelming. Now, the FA was looking to restart the national training center project.

Apparently, Wilkins—the same Wilkins who once coached in China with Shanghai—had already acquired a large plot of land in Burton for this purpose. But it remained unused.

If Gao Shen had to guess, that land would eventually become St. George's Park, the future heart of English football.

The FA had reached out to him, hoping he could give a special lecture on youth player development. But Gao Shen had politely declined. He simply didn't have the time to prepare for such an event.

In fact, according to Brian Kidd, it was rare for a Premier League manager to give a special lecture at the FA's annual conference.

"Unless he's currently unemployed!"

Clearly, Gao Shen wasn't the only one who had turned down the offer.

Still, he would need to attend to show respect to the FA.

That was where he would likely run into Ferguson.

It wasn't just the English FA, UEFA had also sent him an invitation to attend the elite coaching summit and awards ceremony. This year, a Napoli player was set to win an award. But once again, Gao Shen politely declined.

He was now the manager of Manchester City, a team that wasn't even competing in the Champions League. Why would he show up?

Thinking about it, Gao Shen wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or frustrated.

Manchester City was out of the Champions League and only had two domestic cup competitions—the League Cup and the FA Cup. But in the grand scheme of things, these tournaments didn't hold much significance.

The FA Cup carried more prestige, but it wasn't particularly appealing to him.

Essentially, Manchester City was operating on a single front this season, focusing entirely on the Premier League.

That would undoubtedly be a huge advantage.

But missing out on Champions League football still left Gao Shen feeling a little disappointed. After all, he wanted to compete against more teams from different countries and tactical styles.

Fortunately, the Premier League itself was packed with elite managers.

…

By the time Gao Shen had finished washing up and gone downstairs, the housekeeping staff had already arrived.

They had brought him a lavish breakfast from a nearby hotel and asked if he would be having lunch at home.

As he ate, he scrolled through the latest news on his phone.

The headlines were dominated by Manchester City's 3-1 victory over Portsmouth last night. The team had secured their fourth consecutive league win and continued to lead the Premier League table.

The praise was overwhelming, almost excessive, as if it were being handed out for free.

Even Gao Shen himself felt a little embarrassed reading some of the articles.

Was he really that good?

At the moment, four teams in the Premier League had maintained perfect records with four straight wins—Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham. Unsurprisingly, those four teams occupied the top four spots in the standings.

That Chelsea, under Ancelotti, had won four straight games was no surprise. But Liverpool and Tottenham's performances were more unexpected—especially Liverpool, as Redknapp's team had been performing exceptionally well.

Gao Shen remembered that in his previous life, Benítez had a terrible start to this season. But now, Liverpool had won four consecutive games, surpassing Tottenham Hotspur to claim third place in the Premier League.

It had to be said, Biglia's arrival had been a timely reinforcement for Liverpool.

Given the current circumstances, Gao Shen wasn't sure how things would unfold for Benítez and his team.

However, one thing was certain: the void left by Xabi Alonso's move to Real Madrid in his previous life had now been filled by Biglia. Liverpool's overall strength was significantly better than before.

Below the top four were Arsenal and Manchester United.

In the fourth round of the Premier League, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw, with Manchester United failing to secure a win at home.

The Gunners were stronger than in Gao Shen's previous life. Key players like Adebayor and Kolo Touré had stayed, and Wenger still had a squad full of talented players at his disposal.

By contrast, the team in the most concerning situation was Manchester United.

With Cristiano Ronaldo gone and Tevez also pushing for a move, the Red Devils had suffered the most noticeable decline especially in attack.

To make matters worse, Ferguson had once again missed out on signing Benzema this summer.

For a team like Manchester United, failing to defeat Arsenal at home was disappointing.

Although only four rounds had been played, the league standings were already beginning to take shape.

Unless something unexpected happened, these six teams would likely dominate the table.

Gao Shen found the current situation somewhat puzzling.

At this stage, Manchester United seemed to be in the most precarious position. With Ronaldo gone and Tevez on the verge of leaving, the Red Devils were significantly weakened. Their only truly strong signing was Valencia, while Owen had arrived on a free transfer, offering limited impact.

Under these circumstances, Manchester United's overall strength had declined considerably.

As a result, they sat in sixth place in the standings—the lowest among the traditional top teams.

Had Ferguson really not considered reinforcing his squad?

If that were the case, Manchester United might struggle to even secure a top-four finish, let alone challenge for the title.

At the very least, Arsenal had kept Fabregas and signed Vermaelen for over 10 million euros, strengthening their squad.

And what about Manchester United?

The landscape of the Premier League had shifted!

…

After breakfast, Gao Shen took advantage of his free time to make a transatlantic call, first to his parents in China, then to Su Qing in the capital.

Although they spoke or chatted online almost daily, long phone calls like this were rare. These days, Gao Shen barely even had time for gaming.

There was no way around it. Everything at Manchester City was still in its early stages, and on top of being head coach, Gao Shen also served as the club's technical director. In addition to overseeing the first team, he was deeply involved in the youth setup.

For example, Rodolfo Borrell wasn't just the first team's technical director—he also acted as an advisor for the youth academy.

Manchester City was in the midst of a major overhaul, aggressively pushing for a Spanish-style youth development model, something Gao Shen strongly advocated.

With so much to handle, his schedule was packed.

Su Qing was equally busy, but she still found time for a long conversation with him.

She told him that she had everything prepared and would fly to the UK as soon as the National Day holiday arrived.

Naturally, their call was filled with affectionate words. After all, it had been a long time since they had last seen each other.

Thinking about their upcoming reunion, Gao Shen felt a warm sense of anticipation.

But then he realized there was still a full month to wait, and suddenly, that warmth turned into a feeling of emptiness.

According to the schedule, while Su Qing was in the UK, Manchester City would have an away match in Birmingham.

Just thinking about it was frustrating.

Unexpectedly, Su Qing comforted him instead.

She told him she could accompany him to the away match and watch him coach live.

"You know, I always see you on TV, in newspapers, and in magazines, but I rarely get to see you in person. Aside from the Champions League final, this will be the first time. I want to see you lead your team to victory," Su Qing said with a smile full of anticipation.

Gao Shen immediately agreed. "When the time comes, I'll make sure to give you a win!"

Su Qing nodded excitedly, her expectations growing.

Reluctantly, they ended the call.

Gao Shen gradually adjusted his emotions, but before he could fully settle down, his phone rang again.

Caller ID: Fernando Lucas.

"Hello, Fernando," Gao Shen answered.

"Just got some news," Lucas reported anxiously as soon as the call connected.

"I heard Manchester United has started making moves in the transfer market. Ferguson has realized the team's current weaknesses and the danger they're in. He's trying to bring in one or two strong reinforcements before the transfer window closes. United is moving fast."

Gao Shen sighed internally—just as expected.

Only four rounds into the season, but the problems were already apparent, and the competitive landscape was beginning to take shape.

It would have been surprising if Ferguson hadn't started looking for reinforcements.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 582: Final Transfer

"According to reliable intel we've received, Hidalgo, the agent of Genoa's Argentine striker Diego Milito, is currently in London and has met with representatives from Manchester United. We don't know how the negotiations have progressed."

At noon, Gao Shen met with Carlo, Sarri, Lucas, and other members of the coaching staff at a high-end restaurant in Alderley Edge. They had heard the food here was excellent, so Gao Shen decided to treat everyone out of his own pocket.

Fernando Lucas shared the latest transfer news as they dined.

"Diego Milito?" Gao Shen raised an eyebrow in surprise.

It seemed that the current trajectory of the Premier League and even European football was unfolding in ways he hadn't expected.

The biggest variable in the Premier League was Liverpool. Biglia had replaced Xabi Alonso, making them significantly stronger.

Manchester City hadn't raided Arsenal for players, so the Gunners remained competitive.

In La Liga, Di María had joined Real Madrid, Sánchez had gone to Barcelona, and with the additions of Thiago Motta and Vargas, Barça no longer had the financial capacity to sign Ibrahimović or Zielinski.

That meant two of Guardiola's worst signings during his tenure at Barcelona hadn't happened—yet.

But this caused a chain reaction.

Without Ibrahimović moving to Barcelona, Eto'o wouldn't have been forced out to Inter Milan. Guardiola would have had to continue working with him.

If the Swedish striker didn't transfer, Inter wouldn't have been able to sign Diego Milito.

As a result, Genoa's star forward was still at Genoa.

Gao Shen still couldn't wrap his head around why Mourinho's Inter Milan looked weaker than in his previous life, especially in key areas. The core signings that had shaped their legendary treble-winning season—Milito, Sneijder, and Thiago Motta—hadn't arrived yet.

Instead, Moutinho had taken Sneijder's place.

Inter had also nearly signed Deco from Chelsea this summer, but Ancelotti had insisted on keeping him.

Given all these changes, Gao Shen had no idea whether Inter Milan could win the Champions League this season.

Unless Ibrahimović somehow managed to break through his limitations and shed his reputation for underperforming in the Champions League, Inter's chances looked uncertain.

Now, due to this butterfly effect, Diego Milito remained available, and his agent's presence in London was a clear sign. In today's European football landscape, the only clubs capable of affording him were Premier League teams.

Juventus had some funds, but their primary target was Manchester United's powerhouse forward, Tevez.

If United really signed Diego Milito, Berbatov's situation would become even worse.

The Bulgarian striker's talent was undeniable, but his work rate was a glaring issue.

As the media often mocked, Berbatov ran less than Neuer, a ridiculous stat for a forward.

Sometimes, Gao Shen really couldn't understand certain players. Character determined fate.

Whether in his past life in the corporate world or now as a football coach, he had encountered too many people like that.

…

"Are you sure United wants to sign Diego Milito?" Carlo asked with concern.

It was clear that Ferguson was still favoring a system where the striker played to support the midfield.

"There's no final confirmation yet," Lucas replied, "but from what we've gathered through Hidalgo, United is highly interested. Milito himself wants to play in the Premier League, but nothing is certain until the last moment."

To be precise, the transfer window was closing today.

Gao Shen had no idea if a fax machine or some other technical issue might interfere at the last minute.

"But this isn't the biggest story."

As soon as Lucas said that, everyone at the table turned their attention to him.

"From what I've heard, Manchester United has started working on bringing in Sneijder from Real Madrid."

"Sneijder?" Gao Shen was taken aback.

Because of Moutinho's presence at Inter, Sneijder hadn't moved to Milan yet and was still struggling at Real Madrid.

After Robben's departure, Sneijder had also been placed on the transfer list, but he hadn't found a new club yet.

This was largely due to his underwhelming performances at Real Madrid.

Unlike Robben, whose struggles were mainly due to injuries, Sneijder's issues were performance-related. There were even reports about him frequently visiting nightclubs after his divorce.

Players like that were always a gamble.

"United has been playing 4-4-2 most of the time. Is there even a place for Sneijder in their midfield?" Carlo asked with a frown.

Everyone turned to Gao Shen.

At some point, they had all come to completely trust his tactical insights.

"Sneijder's biggest strengths are his ability to arrive late in the box, his long-range shooting, and his passing," Gao Shen analyzed. "But he's definitely not suited to playing as one of the two central midfielders in a 4-4-2."

Manchester United's 4-4-2 wasn't a diamond midfield like Chelsea's. It was structured with two central midfielders, often two defensive-minded players.

For Ferguson, midfielders needed to contribute defensively, at least to the level of Carrick and Anderson.

In fact, Ferguson didn't even fully trust Giggs and Scholes to play as the central duo in a 4-4-2.

Sneijder had some defensive ability, but it wasn't his strength. His work rate also wasn't particularly high. That made him unsuitable for a traditional 4-4-2 setup.

However, as a player developed at Ajax, Sneijder was well-suited for a 4-3-3 or the No. 10 role in a 4-2-3-1.

"United rotated between two tactical setups last season. The 4-2-3-1 is something Ferguson regularly uses," Gao Shen continued. "Bringing in Sneijder and switching to 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 could work well for them."

Everyone at the table nodded in understanding.

"But does Manchester United even have that much money right now?" Lucas asked.

Both Sneijder and Diego Milito wouldn't come cheap, especially Milito. The Argentine striker had been outstanding in Serie A. While his market value wasn't as high as Cavani's, it was still significant.

That was precisely why no club had dared to make a move for him until now.

"It all depends on whether Ferguson can convince the board to loosen the purse strings. Selling Tevez could generate some funds, but the real question is whether he'll be allowed to reinvest that money into transfers."

Unlike before, when Tevez was only on loan at Manchester United from West Ham, the Red Devils had now fully bought him. However, Ferguson and the Argentine forward had grown increasingly at odds.

At the same time, Manchester United was heavily in debt.

After the Glazer family took control of the club through financial maneuvers, they had transferred all the debt onto Manchester United itself. That was why Gao Shen had previously said that United was the most indebted club in the Premier League—they had no grounds to criticize Manchester City's spending.

Reports suggested that, aside from the purchase of Valencia, the Glazer family had no intention of reinvesting the money from Ronaldo's sale.

"Ferguson must be feeling the pressure now!" Gao Shen chuckled, looking at his assistants.

With Manchester City's rise, the competition for a top-four finish in the Premier League was fiercer than ever.

Traditional powerhouses like Tottenham and ambitious challengers like Manchester City, along with teams like Aston Villa and Everton, meant that securing a Champions League spot in the new season would be an all-out war.

At the moment, both Manchester City and Tottenham had won their first four games. While part of that was due to favorable fixtures, their performances had been convincing.

For teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea, the threat was real.

Given their current situations, could any of them truly guarantee a top-four finish?

Even a seasoned expert wouldn't dare to be complacent.

The Premier League was so competitive that if a team let its guard down for even a moment, someone else would snatch their place. Who could say with absolute certainty that they would finish in the top four?

United's reluctance to make signings earlier was due to Ferguson's confidence. But after four matches, even the legendary manager was starting to worry.

"This just proves that we've done a great job," Gao Shen said with satisfaction.

While others might feel disheartened or pressured by Manchester United's efforts to strengthen, Gao Shen saw it as a positive.

He had come to the Premier League to challenge the best.

Whether in football or in life, one should never fear strong opponents or difficult situations.

Life was like rowing against the current, there was no standing still.

Only by continuously challenging obstacles could one live a fulfilling and exciting life.

…

As Gao Shen and his coaching staff wrapped up lunch and discussed their plans for the afternoon, Lucas received breaking news from Madrid.

Sneijder had joined Manchester United for a transfer fee of 15 million euros!

On the final day of the transfer window, the Red Devils had successfully secured the Dutch midfielder from Real Madrid, a move aimed at strengthening Ferguson's midfield.

This transfer immediately made waves across the Premier League.

Sneijder was a talented player. If he could regain his form, he would significantly improve Manchester United's midfield creativity. Some media outlets even speculated that he would take over from Scholes and become the new heartbeat of United's midfield.

However, as the evening progressed, no further transfer announcements came.

The Sun, known for its ability to dig up transfer news, revealed that Manchester United had indeed met with Diego Milito and his agent, Hidalgo. The two sides had even reached a verbal agreement, but negotiations with Genoa had hit a snag.

The main issue was the transfer fee.

Manchester United had offered 20 million euros, but Genoa demanded at least 25 million euros—a 5 million euro gap that neither side was willing to budge on.

Additionally, Manchester United's proposed installment payment plan was unacceptable to Genoa.

The Sun reported that the main roadblock was the Glazer family's unwillingness to sanction additional spending. The money used to buy Sneijder had only been made available after Manchester United sold Tevez to Juventus.

The Argentine forward had been sold for 25 million euros. From that, 15 million was used for Sneijder, while the Glazers had only allowed another 10 million to be reinvested.

As for funding a move for Diego Milito?

Forget about it!

By the time the transfer window officially closed, no further deals had been completed.

In the end, on the last day of the window, Manchester United had finalized two major transfers, Sneijder arriving, Tevez departing.

Most notably, the addition of Sneijder had undoubtedly strengthened Manchester United's midfield.

(To be continued.)